In two weeks an unprecedented number of citizens throughout our country will flock to the polls to cast their votes in one of the most pivotal presidential elections in decades. Throughout this season, the University has been fostering discourse on the key issues and engaging voters through its Dialogue for Democracy series of events. A contingent of our employees also has volunteered to work the polls on election day, and as November 4 nears I want to join other community leaders in encouraging you to consider voting early.

As you may know, new technology, a scanned ballot system, has been implemented for the election in both Miami-Dade and Broward counties. Limited familiarity with this new system and record turnout on November 4 will result in long lines at the polls.

To avoid these lines, you may go to early election sites now through November 2 to cast your ballot. For information on Miami-Dade locations, click here; for information on Broward locations, click here.

To help students, faculty, and staff take advantage of early voting, the University will be providing free shuttle service to the Coral Gables Library election site starting later this week. Shuttles from Stanford Circle on the Coral Gables campus will be running from 12 to 6 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, October 23-24, and next Monday through Saturday, October 27-November 1.

Another option for early voting is to submit an absentee ballot. The deadline to request a ballot is October 29; for information in Miami-Dade, click here, and for information in Broward, click here. Students who are not registered to vote in South Florida should contact the election department in their home county to request an absentee ballot.

The privilege to vote is one of the vital foundations of our democracy—and I strongly urge everyone to exercise their right in this historic election.